Politics and corruption are practically synonymous here in Southeastern Michigan.

Recent names (for most readers here, anyways) include such notables like Coleman Young (the first), Kwame Kilpatrick, The (almost) entire Conyers Family, etc.

Excluding VERY rare circumstances, they have been allowed to go pretty much unchecked by state and local officials since there apparently is some “unwritten” rule prohibiting county prosecutors and Attorneys General from investigating fellow politicians, regardless of party affiliation.

No, I don’t get it either.

Fortunately, this hasn’t stopped the Feds though from doing the job that local and state officials have been reticent to do.

I’ve honestly lost track of the number of investigations on Coleman Young (the first). Kwame Kilpatrick will be a guest of the Texas Penal system for at least two-and-a-half decades (obviously pending the outcome of another appeal attempt). Monica Conyers got to relax for several months after spending some quality time in Camp Cupcake. John Conyers got caught literally with his pants down around his ankles.

And then there is this guy???

Now, who is it you may ask?

{Continued below the fold}

So, the latest round of the Feds doing the job of local and state officials involve two key players.

More people are probably familiar with The Rizzo’s. They have been connected with bribing at least 18 politicians and bureaucrats for their role in approving various contracts favorable to Rizzo Environmental Services (now wholly owned by GFL).

The other one surfaced, albeit very briefly, when the FBI unsealed their progress in a court filing while requesting more time for wiretaps, before the information was promptly re-sealed.

According to The Detroit Free Press, the wiretaps involved multiple politicians and one Gasper Fiore, who just so happens to own multiple towing companies across Southeastern Michigan. He also happens to own the company that is currently contracted by MDOT to provide the Roadside Courtesy Vans seen helping stranded motorists around town.

A yearly $2-million per year contract isn’t exactly chump change.

A portion of the briefly released wiretap transcripts involved a proposed amendment to the MDOT yearly budget that would effectively eliminate any other company from competing for bid.

One of the politicians involved shouldn’t really surprise anyone.

Disgraced ex-Michigan State Representative, repeat felon and sexual deviant Brian Banks (and now candidate for Michigan State Senate) just so happened to be mentioned.

The other name might come as a surprise to everyone: Michigan State Senator Tom Casperson.

Yes, the same A-21 backing, Syndercaid supporting, and RTA promoting Tom Casperson.

With “republicans” like these?!?

Readers are now scratching their heads and asking themselves what a politician from Escanaba has to do with a corruption scandal investigation in Southeastern Michigan.

Anyone want to take a wild guess who the Chairman is of the Michigan Senate Transportation Committee up in Lansing?

Another part of the wiretap transcript between Gasper Fiore and his daughter Jennifer expanded somewhat on this:

“I stopped by and saw Randy, ‘cause I still have to pay him some money. He did that …,” Gasper Fiore said.

“Pay who?” Jennifer Fiore replied.

“Well, that guy,” Gasper Fiore said. “Was he helpful?”

“Casperson?” she said.

“Yeah,” replied Gasper Fiore.

When asked multiple times for comment on the FBI wiretap, Sen. Casperson nor his LA Hannah Kissling had responded.

It should be worth noting that the FBI doesn’t exactly spell out who “Randy” is.

Perhaps after we see “him” being led away in cuffs by the local FBI office and/or the rest of the wiretap transcripts are released.

Stay tuned, true believers.

This story is bound to get more interesting.